Evacuees who were rescued by boat and high water vehicles stand in line for food being served by volunteers, in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey, in a staging area as they wait for buses to go to evacuation shelters, in Vidor, Texas, on Friday. Gerald HerbertAP

Evacuees who were rescued by boat and high water vehicles stand in line for food being served by volunteers, in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey, in a staging area as they wait for buses to go to evacuation shelters, in Vidor, Texas, on Friday. Gerald HerbertAP

“North Carolinians naturally want to reach out and help our neighbors who were hard-hit by flooding in Texas, but, sadly, natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey also bring out the scam artists,” N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall said.

Look for charities you know and contact them, she said. Avoid responding to emotional appeals online from groups whose work you aren’t familiar with, and donate to groups that have resources in the area and an established track record of helping people, Marshall said.

Visit the charities section of www.sosnc.gov to check out groups soliciting you for donations and make sure they are legitimate.

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If you suspect a scam charity has contacted you, report it to the Secretary of State’s Office at 888-830-4989, or to local authorities. And never give financial information over the phone.

Gastonia Police recommend asking a caller what organization they represent, then hanging up and researching the group. Call the organization and ask if they are soliciting donations. Better yet, visit a local office or chapter and speak with someone face to face, police said.

The same holds true for computer solicitations, Gastonia Police said. Delete the email, research the organization and contact them.

Be cautious about gifts of clothing, food or other in-kind donations, the BBB advised.

“In-kind drives for food and clothing, while well intentioned, may not necessarily be the quickest way to help those in need – unless the organization has the staff and infrastructure to distribute such aid properly,” the BBB said. “Ask the charity about its transportation and distribution plans. Be wary of those who are not experienced in disaster relief assistance.”

Also know that some crowd-funding sites do little vetting of people who post for help after a disaster, and it is often difficult for donors to verify the trustworthiness of crowd-funding requests for support, according to the BBB.